Deputy Ray was shot on Saturday, April 2, 1892
while he, 15 other deputies, and the Sheriff
were trying to arrest the Murphy Boys. The
Murphys, who were considered desperadoes and
fugitives, were wanted for the murder of two
men about the first of April. There were also
several other deaths that the Murphys were
charged with.
The squad of deputies entered the mountains on
April 1. They found the Murphys about dark the
next day, April 2. At this time, a battle began
in which Deputy Ray was shot in the head. Deputy
Ray was left lying out all night without medical
attention to the severe wound to his head. It was
believed that had Deputy Ray received prompt care,
he probably would have survived. He died from the
wounds on Thursday, April 21, 1892.
Another posse was formed to go after the Murphys
again, but further detail is unknown.
Burial was in the Madisonville City Cemetery, Monroe
County, Tennessee.
Information from:
- New Era Newspaper, Warren Co., TN
Thursday, May 5, 1892
- Maryville Times, Wednesday, April 20, 1892

Deputy Sheriff Thomas S. Blair
End of Watch: Sunday, January 29, 1911

Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 2 yr

Deputy Blair was shot and killed after breaking
up a disturbance in a local tavern. While in
Tellico Plains, Deputy Blair and another man were
going to take a train to the lumber camps in the
mountains but Deputy Blair missed the train. As he
was walking back to his home he heard an altercation
in Cline's Pool Room. After breaking up the
disturbance, one of the men argued with Blair and
without warning pulled a revolver and then shot him
in the head.
Deputy Blair had been with the agency for two years
and was survived by his wife and four children.
Burial was in New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian
Church Cemetery, Monroe Co., TN.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Heritage Book - 1819-1997.

Deputy Sheriff James "Jim" Crowe
End of Watch: ca 1920's

Age: ?
Tour of Duty: ?

At this time, little information is known about Deputy
Crowe. According to Monroe County, TN death records,
J. S. Crowe was shot and killed on July 23, 1920.
This J. S. Crowe was buried in Unaka Baptist Church
Cemetery, Cherokee County, North Carolina.
If anyone has any information concerning the death of
Deputy Crowe, please e-mail me at corym@usit.net.

Sheriff James Pinkney Kennedy
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 19, 1930

Age: 47

Sheriff Kennedy was accidentally shot around 2:15am
while responding to a report of a burglary at the
Madisonville Wholesale Grocery Company's store where
there had been a string of burglaries. The store
manager, who had made the report, mistook Sheriff
Kennedy for the robber and fired his gun twice. Both
shots hitting the sheriff and instantly killing him.
His wife and 13 children survived him.
Burial was in the Madisonville City Cemetery, Monroe
County, Tennessee.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Democrat Newspaper
March 19, 1930.

Deputy Sheriff Ollie Harrill
End of Watch: Sunday, September 24, 1939

Deputy Harrill and another deputy were on a call
to arrest a man on a "drunkenness charge" just
north of Sweetwater. The man struck both officers
and then seized Deputy Harrill's pistol and shot
him. The other deputy was not seriously injured.
The man was arrested as well as his father. The
father was charged as an accessory to the killing.
Deputy Harrill had been a deputy sheriff for ten
years. He was survived by a daughter, two brothers,
and three sisters.
Burial was in West View Cemetery, Sweetwater, TN.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Democrat Newspaper
September 27, 1939.

Chief Deputy Mills was struck by a drunk driver on
Friday, June 16, 1950. He and two other officers
were en route to serve an arrest warrant when they
noticed a vehicle driving recklessly on the highway.
The officers stopped the vehicle and as they exited
their patrol car, they were struck by an oncoming
vehicle driven by a drunk driver. Chief Deputy Mills
was transported to a local hospital, but died
approximately two weeks later. The second deputy
recovered from his injuries. The driver was charged
with drunk driving and manslaughter.

Chief Deputy Mills had been with the agency for four
years and was survived by his wife and ten children.
He was preceded in death by a son, George Lee Mills,
and his parents George Washington & Ella Burris Mills.
Burial was in Sunset Cemetery, Madisonville, Monroe
County, Tennessee.
Information from family members.

Deputy Taylor was shot to death with a shotgun
when he and Deputy John B. Wear went to deliver
a message to a lady whos aunt was sick, at a home
in Coker Creek. The lady's husband, who had just
been released from the Eastern State Hospital,
stepped out from the side of the house and fired
striking Deputy Taylor. It is believed that the
husband thought that Deputy Taylor was there to
arrest him.
Deputy Taylor was buried in the Coker Creek Baptist
Church Cemetery, Monroe County, TN.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Citizen Democrat June 1, 1966
- Monroe County, TN Citizen Democrat June 8, 1966

Sweetwater, TN Police Department

Patrolman James Loyd Stapp
End of Watch: Sunday, January 16, 1977

Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 17 yr

Patrolman Stapp was shot and killed by a suspect
with a 12-gauge shotgun. The man was sentenced to
life and was denied parole in 2000.
Officer Stapp was buried in the Sweetwater Valley
Memorial Cemetery, Monroe County, TN.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Observer January 19, 1977
- Sweetwater Valley News January 19, 1977

Chief Green was killed when his patrol car left
Hwy 411 and crashed during a high speed chase.
It was believed that the right front tire blew out,
causing the cruiser to leave the road at a speed
in excess of 125 mph. The other driver escaped.
Chief Green had worked for the Monroe County, TN
Sheriff's department as a dispatcher before becoming
Vonore Police Chief. He was also retired from the
Army.
Chief Green was buried in the Little Tellico Baptist
Church Cemetery, Ballplay, Monroe County, TN.
Information from:
- Monroe County, TN Observer - September 24, 1975
- Monroe County, TN Democrat - September 3, 2004
- Sweetwater Valley News - September 25, 1975

For more information on America's fallen police officers,
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